Towel-dispensing machine



Nov. 30 1926.

-5 Sheets-Shea?I 1 A. L. JONES TOWEL DI SPEN S ING MACHINE Flled May 3 1922 f ad lll/Ll ll |1..lr lll I I.I T1 l| |L|11l11 II ||JTV|I1TI| 1.111 H.. .M111 I f 00.11Ti11l111.... 6 9N 1I1I1l|1.. |1111l .,111 U |1|1||. 11|. .Il I H IIIIIIII l I.. 1V 1- 11 w 1 1 l |111 I HH UT n111|1.1 n lll m 1 Q Um, .wd F/ Nov. 30 1926. 1,699,089

A. L. JONES TOWEL DISPENS I NG MACHINE Filed May 3. 1922 5 SheelZS-Shee?l 2 Nov. 30 1926. 1,609,1)89

A. L.. JONES TOWEL DISPENSING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1922 5 sheets-sheet s Nov. 30 1926. 1,609,089

A. L. JNES TOWEL msPENsING MACHINE Filed May 5. 1922 5 sneets-sheet 5 WMMMW Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

' recense Unirse stares rarest ortica.

ALBERT LESLIE JONES, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

" STEINER SALES` COMPANY,

A CORPORATION UTAH.

TOWEL-:DISPEN SIN G MACHINE.- i

Application mea nay 3, 1922. serial No. 558,084.

My invention relates to a new and improved form of towel dispensing machine.

One of the objects of. my invention is t0 provide a machine in which the threading of the long strip of toweling through the v`arious parts of the machinewill be facilitated.

Another object of my invention is toprovide a device or machine in which it will be `impossible to pull outthe end of the long l0 strip of toweling from the said device.

Another object of m invention is to provide a simplification o parts so that the device can be -manufactured more'economically.

Another object of-my invention is to provide a device in which thev portion of. the strip of toweling which is. exposed for use shall project from thebott'om of the case or cabinet enclosing the various elements of the machine.

Other objects of' my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate two preferred embodiments thereof. c f

Fig. l-is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2- is an innerview of the parts shown 4in Fig. 1 and is partially in section.

. Fig. 3 is a section .on the line 3--3y of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similarto Fig. 3 but. showingrthe parts in a different position.

ig. 5 is a perspective View ofthe piv-v oted pawl carrier.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofthe members. shown in Fig. 5, but showing the other side. 0

the said strip of toweling is pulled, the said thereof.-

Fig. 7 is a perspective 'view of the upper gear Wheel and theV stop projecting therefrom.

Fig. 8l is a sectional view on the line 8-78 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fi.v 8 but showing the protectiveshield in a dii'erentlposi tion." A 't i i `"Fig'10"is' a perspective'view ofjthe prof tectiv'shield. 'V' 1` i Figl'lti's a'perspective view showing another elnbodimentof my invention. 1 .w5- Fig. l12 is an elevation oftheelemen'ts c'on-` tained within the case shown in Fig'.f '11'.' jf" i thorized 1-10 inclusive, all the parts are contained within a case having a body 24 provided with a cover secured thereto by means of a hinge 25. The cover 23 has a mirrorM secured thereto in an Vsuitable manner and it is also provided wit a slot through which project the members 5 and 5, to be later described more fully, said members 5 and 5 having the roller 6 connected thereto.

The exposed portion of the long strip of toweling which is intended for instant use, projects as shown in Fig. 1 and thejfront portion thereof, which is the clean portion intended for instant use, is separated from' the rear or soiled portion of' the said exposed strip'by means of a protective shield l to be later more fully described.

As clearly shown in Fig. 8, the strip of toweling is coiled into a roll. The inner end As clearly shown in Figsf, 4,A 8 and 9, the* vforwardly pro'ecting portionsof. vthe said lates S and are provided withslots 36 aving the contour shown in Figs'. 8 and 9. As is clearly shown in said Figs. 8 and 9 the outer ends of the said slots terminate in ho0k-like portions. Hence when the end of rod moves within the said slot 36, and when the stri of toweling is practically used up, the sai rod 17 is endaged by the said hooklike ends of the sa'i slot 36 and is firmly held against further movement by any unauerson. y y y Sincejt eother end of the strip of towell ing is;- secured against removal by" any unau- 'thorized person in a'rnanneril'aterto be de# scribed', `both ends -ofthe strip "of to'weling are thus'liirmly held inl thelinachine when 'the said -toweling is Au 'sed up 'and indeed at -all other t imes'=-sozthaty the towelingcan-not be removed except by 'an authorized erso". The-end of the strip 'of towe ing is'fled overjihe" roundezlendl'O'of thjef-'qsaid shelt'v Sandi:- fis* tlhenifledaround. f the -vnn'jrevol'ubl cylinde A"orfba'r 40"conne'cted to "the inks'),

which are pivoted to their respective side-. The mernbers and 5 are connected to plates S and S by the pivots 3.

The toweling is then passed around the upper-roller connected to the upper gear wheel 26 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This upper roller 15 is preferably provided with a jacket made of corrugated rubber in which cach corrugation is split so as to provide two half teeth.

Since the member'40 is connected to the links 2 it can be swung away from the said upper roller 15 so as to enable the end of the strip of toweling to be readily passed around the said upper roller 15. However, when the strip of toweling is pulled in the operation of the device, the said links assume the'position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in which they are urged so as to tend to press against the surface of the adjacent roller 15. Int-his position the bar 40 acts like a clamp and prevents the movementof the toweling with respect to roller 15', when roller 15 is held against movement. The strip of toweling is then passed over the roller 6, secured to the arms 5 and 5 which are pivotally secured at 4 to their respective side plates S and S. The toweling T is then caused to form a loop as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 andthe inner end is then passed over the bottom of the said slot in the cover 23 and around the lateral tie-rods R and R which are secured to the said side plates S and S.

The end of the strip'oftoweling is then laid around the roller 15 which is of a similar'contruction to the upper roller 15 and is then secured to a tube 28 in any suitable mannexgas, for example, in the manner described in my said previously mentioned application.'

The said tube 28 can movev in angular slots 401 which are formed in the said plates S and S. Hence when the entire strip -of toweling hasvbecn substantially used up andthe rod 17y is in the locking position shown in Fig. 9 the attendant can open the door 23 which may be locked by any suitableA locking device and he can move the rod 28 out of the slots 401 and cause itto rest in the notches 41 formed in the said side-plates S and S.

The rollers 15 and 15 are connected to the gear wheels 26 and 27 and these are also connected by the chain 16. Hence,

when the outer (part of the-loop shown in Fig..1 is pulle the chain moves in the direct-ion of the arrows shown in Figs. 3

'and 4 andv therollers 15-:and 15 revolve in :,the vdirection of #60,;

the arrows shown in Figs. 8v and ln-l order to; prevent more than a desired I i portion of thestrip of toweling from being exposedby a' single pull upon the outer leg of the loop, the upper gear wheel 26 is providedwith a stop 34 shown in Fig. 7.

springs 21 and 21 respectively and these tend to hold the said members 5 and -5j-in the position shown in Fig. 4. The member 5 is provided with a pawl 33 pivoted thereto at 31 and moving in a recess 32. The said members 5'and 5 are also provided with pins 8 which extend into perforations 7 in` thesaid plates S and S so as to limit their movement. l

The weight of the pawl 33 causes itv to normally assume the position'shoWn-in Fig.

4 in which it contacts with the lower edge of the said'rccess .32.

Then the user pulls down the outer leg of the loop 'l thc member 5 is forced ih- .wardly and into the position shown'in Fig. 3. The projection 34 which is caused to revolve with the upper gear wheel engages with pawl 33 during the revolution of the said gear wheel 26 and forces said pa-wl33 against the upper face of theA said recess 32 asshown in Fig. 3, thereby locking' the fparts against f urthermovement. When the pull upon the outer leg of the loop is dis- '-"3 continued, the tension spring 21'then forces the member 5 into the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby releasing the pawl 33 from the stop 34 and causing the pavvl` 33 to drop back to its normal position so that another portion o f the strip of toweling can be exposed.

In 'order'to protect .the outer or clean leg of the loop from Ithe inner or soiled portion the shield 1- which 'is preferably. ""3 made of some flexible and non-absorbent material such as rubber or the like, ismprovided.4 This shield 1 has a bottom rod 11, which is made sufficiently heavy so as to keep the shield in the positionshownin Fig. 1 and it is also provided with atop or inner rod.. 12. The top or inner rod 12 projects through and slides in the slots 38 formedv in the said side vplates vS and S and shwn in Figs. 8 and 9. While the device is in use, the .shield is in the position shown in Fig. 8 and when it is desired. to insert afresh strip of toweling the rod 12 can-be pulled to the bottom of slots 38 as clearly shown in Fig. 9. It is obvious that in this embodiment the soiled toweling in the form of a roll can be very quickly and conveniently removed and that a fresh strip -of .toweling can be very conveniently and quickly inserted and' lli) -that the portion of the toweling. vintended T20 for use is always maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and that it is impossible the cabinet. The side plates are `provided 13- .as before described, but the shelf 50 upon .rounded end 61 of the said shelf and then passes 'around a roller or equivalent part similar to the roller 40- before mentioned and which is secured to the links 63, pivotally secured at 64 to the said plates. The toweling is then led around the roller 59' similar in Construction to that before described Aand around the roller 62 secured to the ends of the pawl carriers 51 pivotally secured at 50 to their respective side plates and held in the position shown in Flg. 13

27 as before described and these are con-- .nected by a chain" 65. One of the @members 51 is provided with a pawl 52 pivoted at 53 in a recess 54 of the said member 51. The operation' of the parts is substantially the same as that before mentioned:

This application is a continuationin part of my previously led application Serial No. 541,003 led on March 4th, 1922.

In both embodiments a pivoted pawl 29 is provided in connection.- with the lower gear wheel 27 so as to prevent any backward movement thereof. The shield is not shown in Figs. 18 and 14, but such a shield could be provided between the outer leg and the inner leg of the loop as before described.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is clear that numer ous changes and omissions can be made without'departing-from its spirit.

Wherever I refer to parts before described either in the description or in the clalms by means of numbers, I do not wish, to be limited to the specific embodiment herein' illustrated.

I claimz- 1. In a towel dispensing devicewhich includesa cabinet, means located in said cabinet and adapted to movably hold a length of toweling sc that a loop thereof remains eX- posed for use outside of said cabinet, and al shield connected to said cabinet and adapted to be held.4 between the inner and outer legs of said loop, Ssaid shield being so mounted that it is adapted to be withdrawn into said cabinet While it remains connected thereto.

2. In a'. towel dispensing device which includes a cabinet,`means located in said cabinet andadapted to movably hold a length of toweling so that a loop thereof remains exposed for use outside of said cabinet, and

ed to be held between the inner and outer legs of said loop, one end of said shield being secured to a rod which is slidably connected to said cabinet.

3. In a towel dispensing device which includes a cabinet, side plates located in said cabinet and having slots formed with hookashield connected tosaid cabinet and adaptlike ends, a rod connected to a length of 7U toweling and adapted to fit into said slots sothat it can be moved slidably in said slots when said toweling is pulled, said hook-like lends of said slots being adapted to engage said rod when they contact therewith and prevent the removal of said rod out of said slots when 'said toweling is pulled.`

4. In a towel dispensing device having a cabinet, a roller mounted in Said cabinet and adapted to have a bight of the toweling passed around it and in frictional engagement therewith, astop member connected to .said roller and movable therewith, a mov able control member adapted to be moved to an operative position to co-operate with said stop to prevent Vthe turning of said roller, the said control member being normally in an inoperative position, said control member having a guide connected thereto over which the toweling is adapted to pass so that a pull on said toweling urges said.

control member to the operative position in which 1t engages said stop member, and a guide for one end of said bight mounted on a pivoted member, said last mentioned guide being adjacent said roller and being below the top of said roller, so that said bight is of snicient length to be gripped by said roller against any relative movement thereof, when said rollerx is locked against movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALBERT LESLIE JoNEs 

